Due to the strain of a massive population, lack of environmental flows, intensive livestock farming, unscrupulous fertilizer usage across the Indo-Gangetic belt, and highly polluted municipal/industrial effluent streams, the river is in a dismal status.

Several detailed studies indicate that untreated domestic and industrial wastewater into the river via open drains is the main cause for its alarming toxicity. Pollutants include contaminants like fecal coliform, oil and grease, toxic chemicals, heavy metals, dissolved solids etc.

The industrial pollutants largely originate from Tanneries in Kanpur, Paper Mills, Distilleries and Sugar Mills in the Yamuna, Ram, Hindon and Kali river catchments. Then, there is the huge load of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) which contributes 2/3rds of the total pollution load.

The management a basin-wide plan and requires updated knowledge of the Ganges lacks integration
an accessible and sharing platform. Further, the Indo-Gangetic belt faces yet another challenge of upgrading it’s water supply, wastewater treatment infrastructure and of providing clean water supply to all rural households by 2024 under the “Jal Jeevan Mission”- The Water for Every Household Mission.

If we wish to achieve the goals of the action plan 2030, it is clear that capacity building and bridging knowledge gaps coupled with innovative technology is critical to the success of the plan.

Your funding will help to build that capacity, and pilot new strategies in preparation for scaling up the programmes that deliver the greatest impact.